"Surrendering to divine fate is a sign of strong faith, profound
knowledge and stable will," he told the official Irna news agency.

"What happened to Laleh and Ladan is one page in the great book of destiny."

"I know that millions of hearts here in Iran and abroad, who
kept vigil and hoped desperately that the difficult surgical
operation would be a success, as well as all those involved in the
operation, hoped for nothing but an easier and more enjoyable life
for Laleh and Ladan," he said.

Laden and Laleh died within 90 minutes of each other after the
separating of their heads caused massive blood loss.

The BBC's Francis Harrison in Tehran says that through local media the country had watched the girls grow up and people were in tears when the news was announced.

The sisters had been warned of the dangers of the operation but were prepared to risk everything for the chance of independent lives.

Iranian state media had been providing minute-by-minute updates on how the operation was proceeding to a country eager for news.

Normal television and radio programmes were interrupted to announce the deaths.

Our correspondent in Tehran says there has been little suggestion there that the twins made the wrong decision, just enormous respect for their achievements and sympathy for their desire to go their separate ways.

Both women had obtained law degrees. Ladan - the more outspoken of the two, wanted to be a lawyer, while Laleh, had ambitions of becoming a journalist.

As one of them put it, her greatest wish was to be able to look into her sister's eyes for the first time in her life.